News & Events

The GW Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship hosts many events throughout the school year as part of our many wonderful programs. Check out the list of events for the 2018 spring semester. If you are interested in learning more entrepreneurial skills, wanting to meet your next mentor or business partner, or just interested in networking with some of GW's most innovative community -- then attend one of our events! Events are free and open to the public. Evening workshops typically will provide food & beverages. See you at the next event!

The deadline to submit your application to compete at the 2018 GW New Venture Competition is coming up! Want all of your questions answered before you submit the final application? Want guidance from the Director of the competition himself? Come to office hours! Appointments are 15 minutes each. First come, first serve.

Social entrepreneurs and innovators around the world are tackling some of the most complex and challenging social problems of our time. These innovators use the human-center design and design thinking methods to provide impactful solutions in the US and across the globe. This experiential workshop exposes those in the nonprofit and social impact sectors the tools and tactics used by those innovators and entrepreneurs. Join us to learn more!

This hands-on workshop will include a brief overview of the business model canvas, the current state-of-the-art form specifying the nine key elements of a startup venture. Instructors will then hold individual advising sessions to help students create a cavas or improve the canvas for their particular startup idea.

Sure, you might have a great idea, but the key question entrepreneurs need to ask themselves is: "before I build it, is it something my target customer actually wants?" Customer Discovery is a critical part of any company's success blueprint. Meet with GW experts to learn more about best practices at this workshop!

GW New Venture Competition teams who are looking to get help with their round 2 application should attend this workshop! Learn more about the best method to outline your business for a potential investor and funder. The Feasibility Analysis is a critical part of the round 2 submission to the competition. If you are still interested in attending this workshop but not part of the competition - you are still welcome to attend!

You're working on a great business plan for your business startup, to take to a bank or other lender. A key part of that plan is the financial statements. These statements will be looked at carefully by the lender, so join us for a workshop to go over some tips for making these documents SELL your business plan.

Guest speaker, Peter Weissman, patent attorney and partner at Blank Rome LLP, GW NVC Sponsor, and GW Law Alum, discusses common legal challenges faced by startup companies from formation of the company to contractual and patent issues. From this talk, you will learn why it is important to have a company, how to identify the key differences between the various company structures, how to avoid common contract issues, and what steps need to be taken to protect your team's valuable patents and trademarks.

Meet with some of the hottest startups in the DMV area for potential career and internship opportunities! This great event is open to everyone in the DMV community looking to work with a DC startup. Don't miss out on the additional opportunity of attending the guest panel featuring some of the most prominent startup executives in the area! More details to come!

Pitching your business idea can be tough. Guest speaker, GW Alum, and newest NVC Sponsor, Antwayne Ford will be giving an "Enlightened" discussion on what the do's and don'ts are for a concise investor pitch as well as best practices for how you can nail your presentation!

You're working on a great business plan for your business startup, to take to a bank or other lender. A key part of that plan is the financial statements. These statements will be looked at carefully by the lender, so join us for a workshop to go over some tips for making these documents SELL your business plan.

So You Need an App: How to Make the Right Software Development Choice for your StartupDate: Tuesday, March 20, 2018Time: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PMLocation: Marvin Center Room 402 & 404 (800 21st St. NW, Washington, DC 20052)Register to Attend Event Here

Join us for a great interactive discussion with guest speaker, Amelia Friedman (co-founder and COO), from Hatch! This talk will cover explanations of the software development optiona available as well as key evaluation criteria. We'll also discuss key terms that will help you fire developers, talk to investors, and grow your business.

Join us for an experiential and interactive workshop that exposes students to the tools, tactics, and frameworks used by innovators, entrepreneurs, and designers to empathize with populations they seek to serve, define problem sets, and come up with innovative solutions.

Many of the most innovative and fastest growing businesses in the US have been founded by foreign nationals working or studying in the US. This clinic will have two components: 1) an overview presentation of the immigration options for international student entrepreneurs and 2) one-on-one consultations with greater DC area immigration attorneys.

The top 9 GW student entrepreneurial teams will take the stage at one of the largest competitions in the nation to vie for over $300,000 in funding and support. What big idea will come from GW next? Attend the 10th anniversary finals on 4/19/18 to see who will take the top prize!

Looking to get your business incorporated but unsure of the process or the legal documentation you need to help protect your interests? Do you know what it means to be a business owner or how to govern your busness properly and ethically? We can help you answer all of these questions. Join us for an insightful workshop featuring guest speakers from the legal industry. Don't miss out!

Thank you to all of the GW mentors and judges that have helped the Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship throughout the 2017 - 2018 school year! Students, faculty, staff, mentors, alumni alike are all welcome to join us for this fun, casual happy hour celebration at the GW Innovation Center as a thanks for a fun and eventful year. Network and mingle with us before the school year ends and finals begin.